2009 SQF International Conference Wednesday, October 21 - Friday, October 23, 2009 Fiesta Americana Aurelio Aceves 225 Col. Vallarta Poniente Guadalajara C.P. 44110 Mexico

The registration period for this meeting has ended.

Join food industry professionals from all levels of the supply chain to discover the benefits of third-party food safety and quality certification. Learn better business practices that increase profits and protect brands, including lessons learned from previous food safety outbreaks. Or expand your knowledge, skills and expertise in the field of food safety auditing.


Supplier benefits:

• Gain insight into global food safety issues with a focus on Latin America
• Learn how to meet US and international retailers’ and regulators’ expectations
• Discover how SQF certification can facilitate access to domestic and global markets
• Explore resources available to assist suppliers in the implementation process


Retail and Food Service Buyer benefits:

• Discover unique features that set SQF apart from other certification programs
• Hear how other retailers have increased profits and protected brands using SQF
• Learn the benefits of a unique supplier audit data management system

Auditor and Consultant benefits:

• Enhance auditing, technical and communication skills
• Get valuable SQF program and industry updates
• Meet professional development requirements


Optional Events

Training Courses
SQF Systems training courses will be offered prior to the conference on October 19 and 20 and will be conducted in Spanish. These courses are designed to aid participants in the implementation of SQF 1000 and/or SQF 2000 Systems. Cost is $ 500.00 / person and includes lunches, breaks and meeting materials. Does not include the $ 50.00 online exam fee

Professional Update Workshop
An optional update workshop for auditors, consultants and trainers will be offered on October 21. This workshop counts as credit toward the SQF professional development requirement. Cost is $ 100.00 / person and includes lunch.


Fiesta!
All conference attendees are invited to join us for Fiesta! a celebration of Mexican culture and cuisine on Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the Hospicio Cabanas in Guadalajara.

There is no additional charge for this event, provided you have registered for the conference and receive a conference badge. Transportation to and from the event location will be provided as well as cocktails, a three-course traditional Mexican meal and musical entertainment.



Related Web Pages and Sites:
SQF Conference Website

Related Files:

SQF Conference Brochure

Registration Includes:

Registration fee includes all meeting materials and participation in general and breakout sessions, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 evening meals and morning and afternoon breaks. Fee does not include your hotel, airfare, training classes or workshops.

NOTE: To qualify for the FMI Member / FMI Associate Member rate you must be an employee of an FMI member or FMI Associate Member company All others are non-members. An FMI member is either a supermarket retailer or wholesaler paying annual dues to FMI. A FMI associate member is a supplier company paying associate member dues to FMI.

To qualify for the SQF affiliate rate you must be either a registered SQF consultant, auditor or practitioner, an employee of a licensed SQF Training Center or Certification body or and employee of an SQF certified supplier.

Who Should Attend:

• Supermarket and Foodservice Retailers (staff with purchasing, logistics, and food safety and quality responsibilities)
  
• Food Sector Training Organizations and Consultant Food Safety Professionals
  
• Food Safety Auditors and Food Safety Certification Bodies
  
• Primary Producers
  
• Food Processors (decision makers, managers, supervisors, and food safety and quality personnel)
  
• Regulatory Bodies and Higher Education Institutions

Meeting Attire:

Business casual. Please keep in mind that meeting and hotel rooms may be chilly, so please pack accordingly.

Registration Fees: These fees are available through 10/20/2009
Name	Price
FMI Retailer/Wholesaler Member - Early Bird Rate	$675.00
FMI Retailer/Wholesaler Member - Standard Rate	$795.00
SQF Affiliates - Early Bird Rate	$700.00
SQF Affiliates - Standard Rate	$825.00
FMI Associate Members - Early Bird Rate	$800.00
FMI Associate Members - Standard Rate	$925.00
Non-Member - Early Bird Rate	$975.00
Non-Member - Standard Rate	$1,150.00
Latin American Supplier - Early Bird	$700.00
Latin American Supplier - Standard	$825.00
Latin American Suppliers and Retailers - Special Rate	$275.00
Special Events
Name	Price	Available To
Fiesta Night (Included in registration fee)
Fee for Fiesta Night (Included in registration fee) (early-bird)	$0.00	Domestic Ret./Whslr. Canadian Ret./Whslr. International Ret./Whslr. NAPAR Association Council Associate Member (2005 or earlier) Silver Level Membership Association Partner Industry Partner Strategic Partner Affiliate Partner Guest NonMember
Fee for Fiesta Night (Included in registration fee)	$0.00	Domestic Ret./Whslr. Canadian Ret./Whslr. International Ret./Whslr. NAPAR Association Council Associate Member (2005 or earlier) Silver Level Membership Association Partner Industry Partner Strategic Partner Affiliate Partner Guest NonMember
Professional Update Workshop for SQF Auditors, Consultants and Trainers
Fee for Professional Update Workshop for SQF Auditors, Consultants and Trainers (early-bird)	$100.00	Domestic Ret./Whslr. Canadian Ret./Whslr. International Ret./Whslr. NAPAR Association Council Associate Member (2005 or earlier) Silver Level Membership Association Partner Industry Partner Strategic Partner Affiliate Partner Guest NonMember
Fee for Professional Update Workshop for SQF Auditors, Consultants and Trainers	$100.00	Domestic Ret./Whslr. Canadian Ret./Whslr. International Ret./Whslr. NAPAR Association Council Associate Member (2005 or earlier) Silver Level Membership Association Partner Industry Partner Strategic Partner Affiliate Partner Guest NonMember

Cancellation and Other Policies:

Notify registrar in writing by email to sgeorge@fmi.org or fax 202-220-0878 by October 7, 2009. A full refund is granted when a cancellation is received prior to September 30, 2009. A 60% refund is granted if cancellation is received after September 30, 2008 but prior to October 7, 2009. No refund if notification is received after October 7, 2009.

General Hotel Information:

Fiesta Americana Hotel
Aurelio Aceves 225
Glorieta Minerva
Col Vallarta Poniente
C.P. 44110
Guadalajara
Tel: + 55 3818 1400
Fax: + 55 3615 6561

The Fiesta Americana Guadalajara is located in the economic and financial heart of the city of Guadalajara just steps away from the famous Guadalajara Arches and across from the picturesque Minerva Fountains. It is the main hotel in the city’s hotel zone, close to the historical center, World Trade Center, Expo Guadalajara as well as shops, art galleries, restaurants and bars. The hotel is approximately 30 minutes from the airport (GDL).

Please make room reservations directly with the hotel. The negotiated rate for the SQF Conference is $ 99.00 / night for a standard room (single/double) without breakfast. There is an additional charge of $ 3.50 per day for housekeeping and a $ 5.00 fee for bellman service per round trip. These fees are mandatory and will be included on your bill.

In order to secure a room at the conference rate reservations must be made no later than September 25, 2009. Please call 1-800-FIESTA-1 (1-800-343-7821). Mexico residents may call or (55) 53266900 to make their reservations. We encourage you to make your reservations early, as the hotel may sell out before this date. After September 25, reservations will be accepted on a space-available basis and higher rates may apply. Please reference the SQF International Conference when making your booking. Online reservations are not available.

Travel Information:

Travel Information (from outside Mexico)

Guadalajara is Mexico’s second largest city and is located in the state of Jalisco about 1,000 miles due south of El Paso, Texas. Continental, Delta and American Airlines are among the U.S. carriers that offer direct flights to Guadalajara from major cities in the US such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Tucson, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Miami. Flying time from Los Angeles and Houston is approximately three hours.

Travel information (from within Mexico and Latin America)

Guadalajara lies about 335 miles from Mexico City and is linked to the nation’s capital by highways 15 and 57. Highway 54 connects Guadalajara to Colima and Highway 80 leads to Leon and Guanajuato. The following airlines operate out of Guadalajara’s international airport and offer direct flights to Mexico City, Monterrrey, Morelia, Hermosillo, Toluca, Guanajuato, Puerto Vallarta and Tijuana: Mexicana, Aeromexico, Aviacsa, Lineas Aereas Azteca and Magnicharters. Copa Airlines operate code share flights with Continental Airlines between Guadalajara and a wide range of destinations in South America.

Visa Information

IMPORTANT: Please check the visa / passport requirements for entering Mexico before you plan your travel. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are in possession of the appropriate travel documents. Refunds cannot be made to conference delegates who are unable to attend because of insufficient travel documents. Please note that all Americans traveling outside the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. Please visit travel.state.gov for up-to-date travel requirements.

US, British, Canadian and Australian citizens do not need a visa to enter Mexico, although you must present a valid passport and fill out an immigration form for tourists and business trips, which can be obtained in travel agencies, airlines or at the point where you enter Mexico. Citizens of other countries should check with the Mexican Embassy in their respective countries for more information about visa requirements.